7 Cornerstones of Making with Kids

I'd like to run a program along this line down the road.

From Makezine:

Toronto-based MakerKids is one of the world’s only makerspaces specifically designed for kids, and many people have asked us to share our recipe. We think of it as a brunch — there are many ways to make it delicious. Take the pieces of our recipe that work for you and make it your own. We’re also available to help with this — we envision a future where there are MakerKids chapters all over the world.

The MakerKids Recipe

1. Dedicated Space

2. Real Tools: We have the same real tools that any adult makerspace would have.

3. Process Over Product: Value experiential learning. We celebrate the fact that they’re making, not just what they make. The point is not to take home some shiny object that they’ve made. We emphasize that it’s okay to fail — it’s just an opportunity to learn.

A major part of making is researching how to accomplish goals. Instead of telling kids step-by-step instructions, we encourage them to figure out how to do it themselves, ask other kids, or research it online. We frequently answer the question “How do I do this?” with “Google will tell you!”

4. Interest-Driven: We try to let kids’ creative interests define projects as much as possible.

Recently, a group of kids were very interested in vehicles, so they designed and built a hovercraft. They learned a lot of skills as they went along: 3D printing (for the lift turbine), motors, Arduino programming, and more. When it failed to get off the ground on the first try, they got right to work reinventing the skirt to reduce weight and optimizing the turbine airflow.
Every activity we do, no matter how short, we incorporate something creative, something open-ended. Let them make it their own!

5. Kids Teaching: We encourage kids to share their knowledge with each other and with their teachers.

6. Exhibition: Each program has a presentation to the parents, which kids get really excited about. It helps them to organize their thoughts, knowing that at the end of their project, they’ll have to explain it to someone else. Having a deadline also helps them focus and move forward.

7. Community: We connect to the Toronto community and the global maker community through events like Maker Faire, local community festivals, school fun fairs, participation in online discussions, and interfacing with folks from other maker companies.
 http://makezine.com/magazine/make-40/makerkids/